"Ash, that Krabby is so underdeveloped. Why did you even capture it?"
When leaving Bill's Lighthouse, Ash unexpectedly ran into the same scrawny Krabby from the original story.
And knowing its incredible hidden potential, there was no way he was going to pass it up.
But unlike in the original, where he used a stick to capture it, Ash used Pokémon food to befriend and capture the little Krabby safely.
Still, both Misty and Brock expressed doubt.
After all, if Ash wanted a Krabby, he could have visited a bigger beach where dozens of them roamed—and any random one would look stronger than the one he just caught.
So their question was perfectly understandable.
Ash merely smiled slightly.
"I have my reasons for catching this Krabby. Have my eyes ever let me down?"
Misty and Brock exchanged a look—but didn't argue further.
...
After leaving Bill's Lighthouse, the group continued toward Vermilion City.
As they walked, a sudden thick fog enveloped the road, reducing visibility to almost zero.
They had to slow down and look for dry branches along the roadside to make a fire for warmth.
"This fog is ridiculous… Everyone, stay close so we don't get separated," Ash warned, spreading his Aura to sense the surroundings.
As they gathered firewood, a harsh scolding echoed through the fog.
"Joe! You're too slow! At this rate, you'll never graduate!"
"S-Sorry! I'll try harder!"
Ash and the others followed the voice quietly.
Through the fog, they saw several students in matching uniforms drilling a timid boy—Joe—forcing him to repeatedly make his Pokémon use high-intensity moves.
His poor Pokémon (likely a Sandshrew) was already panting heavily.
"What are you doing?! This kind of training is too much!" Misty shouted, unable to hold back.
The elite students looked at them with disdain.
"Who are you? This is Pokémon Technical Institute business. Outsiders shouldn't interfere.
We will join the Pokémon League after graduation, so naturally our elite training methods are the most effective!"
Joe quickly waved his hands nervously.
"N-No, it's fine! The upperclassmen are helping me! This is the only way to get stronger!"
Ash frowned deeply at Joe and his exhausted Pokémon.
This suffocating, borderline abusive "elite education" disgusted him.
"Becoming strong shouldn't require sacrificing a Pokémon's happiness or health.
I want to speak with your supervisor."
He was reminded of certain "elite academies" from his previous world… the ones that preached "excellence" while doing nothing but exploiting students behind the scenes.
Dark places—very dark indeed.
Under the reluctant guidance of the elite students, Ash and company were taken to a luxurious building within the academy.
In the grand hall, they met the academy's leader—Giselle (also the ringleader of the elite students).
Ash was momentarily stunned.
No wonder the original Ash was mesmerized the instant he saw her.
She really was stunning—elegant, composed, princess-like.
Brock immediately had hearts in his eyes, and even Ash momentarily drifted.
"Oh? So you're the ones who have a problem with my teaching?"
Giselle's voice was crisp—but carried an unmistakable arrogance.
Misty saw her two companions starstruck and instantly exploded in anger.
"That's right! Your training method is completely wrong! If you have any guts, settle it with a Pokémon battle!"
Giselle smirked.
"A battle? Fine. If you lose, you will leave immediately and stop disrupting our academy."
And So The One-on-One Battle Begins
Misty sent out Starmie.
Giselle responded with a Graveler.
"Starmie, Water Gun!" Misty commanded.
"Graveler—Harden, then Rollout," Giselle said calmly.
Graveler boosted its defense, endured the Water Gun, then curled into a ball and launched into a fierce Rollout.
Starmie's Psychic moves barely hurt a Rock-type like Graveler, and its Water Gun had been shrugged off.
Rollout hit solidly—
Starmie was knocked out quickly.
"What?! How…"
Misty couldn't believe it. Despite having type advantage, she had been defeated so easily.
Giselle recalled Graveler, her tone even more mocking.
"See? This is the difference between theory and reality.
Trainers like you, who wander around without guidance, know nothing about true power."
Her eyes turned toward Ash and Pikachu.
"And you—carrying around a common little electric mouse. How impressive can that be?
Electric moves might work in Cerulean Gym, but against truly strong trainers, they're worthless."
Oh?
This sharp-tongued little princess needed to learn what the real world was like.
"Pikachu's strength isn't something your textbooks can measure!"
Ash's eyes sharpened.
"I'll challenge you!"
"Hmph. Know your place. Go—Cubone!"
Giselle sent out her second Pokémon: a Ground-type Cubone.
"Wait," Ash said suddenly.
"Let's add a wager. If Pikachu wins, you'll apologize to Joe and to Pikachu.
And also—"
Ash glanced at her with a look that made her flinch, "you'll agree to one request of mine."
Giselle felt her cheeks heat under his direct gaze—furious and embarrassed.
"Fine! I accept! But if you lose?"
"If I lose, I'll apologize to your entire academy AND promote your academy for free."
"Deal!"
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
Ash opened with a probing attack.
As expected, the electricity struck Cubone with no effect at all—
Ground types are completely immune to Electric attacks.
"Hahaha! Don't even understand type matchups?"
Giselle and her elite students burst into mocking laughter.
But Ash remained completely calm—in fact, he even smiled.
"Pikachu, since electricity won't work, then we just won't use it!
Charge in—Quick Attack!"
Pikachu turned into a streak of white light, dashing straight toward Cubone!
"Cubone, Bone Boomerang!" Giselle ordered.
Cubone hurled its bone, but Pikachu was too fast, dodging with ease!
"Now—jump! Iron Tail!"
Ash gave an order that sounded impossible in Giselle's eyes.
A metallic flash burst out—
Pikachu's tail transformed into shining steel and smashed down on Cubone!
"W–what?! Pikachu knows Iron Tail?!"
Giselle and every student were stunned.
This completely exceeded everything their textbooks had taught them!
BAM!
Iron Tail landed cleanly—super effective!
Cubone was struck senseless, crying out before collapsing.
It was unable to battle.
The entire hall fell into dead silence.
The elite students stared with their mouths hanging wide open.
They simply could not comprehend what had just happened.
Giselle's face turned pale.
She stared blankly at her fallen Cubone and at Pikachu, who still burned with fighting spirit.
Ash walked up to her and spoke seriously:
"See? A Pokémon's potential is limitless.
It must never be restricted by cold, rigid textbooks or so-called 'common knowledge.'
You and your students may have memorized all the type charts, but you forgot the most important thing—
the bond with your Pokémon, and the faith that they can create miracles."
Giselle stared into Ash's clear, unwavering eyes, then glanced at her confused students, and finally recalled the exhausted look on Joe and his Pokémon.
At that moment, the arrogance and beliefs she once held so tightly… crumbled.
She slowly lowered her head, shoulders trembling lightly.
"…You're right."
When she looked up again, the arrogance was gone—replaced by genuine reflection.
"I was too conceited. I clung to book knowledge and ignored what truly matters—the heart of a trainer and the real strength of Pokémon… I'm sorry."
She walked over to Joe and bowed sincerely.
"Joe, everyone… I'm sorry. Starting today, I'll change the way I teach.
Let's learn again—this time, learning how to truly understand our Pokémon. Okay?"
Joe and the other students, moved by seeing the always-proud Giselle apologize, all nodded.
Giselle looked back at Ash.
Her smile this time was honest—so beautiful it was almost disarming.
"Ash… thank you. I learned more from this one battle than I did from years in this academy."
---
[Ding! Host defeated Giselle with innovative tactics, shattered her rigid worldview, and triggered a positive reform in the Pokémon Technical Institute. Reward: 800 World Points.]
[Current World Points: 6600]
---
Since night had fallen, the group stayed at the academy as Giselle's guests.
That evening, there was a knock on Ash's door.
When he opened it, he found Giselle standing outside, wrapped in a long coat.
"Giselle?" Ash blinked and let her inside.
"Ash… earlier… you said… that… um… I—I agreed to fulfill one request…"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter.
Ash flicked her forehead.
"What are you thinking? My 'request' is simply that your academy should be more open to ordinary people—not just nobles. That's all."
"Ah… th-that's… all…?"
Giselle's face turned crimson.
What on earth had she been imagining?
How did she twist pure kindness into… that?!
However—
Ash tilted his head, studying her.
"But then… why visit me this late at night?"
In response, Giselle slowly unfastened the buttons of her coat…
And the outfit beneath—
absolutely stunned Ash.
What happened afterward—
shall remain unspoken.
---
The Next Morning
The fog cleared, sunlight returning to the world.
Ash, Brock, and Misty bid farewell to a completely transformed Pokémon Technical Institute.
Giselle and Joe stood at the gate, watching them leave, filled with new hope for the future.
Though in Giselle's eyes—
She saw only Ash.
Some things…can only be felt, not described.